100 WAYS TO KEEP KIDS BUSY WHILE SAFE INSIDE

(Photo by Anna Kolosyuk on Unsplash)

Running low on ideas? Need some boredom busters to help kids stay distracted in healthy ways? Try these 100 ideas to keep kids entertained and engaged.

1. YOGA - A staple on the list of healthy distractions, yoga is a great way to calm and engage kids. Cosmic Kids on YouTube offers fun routines that appeal to kids of various ages.
2. DO A SCAVENGER HUNT - There are opportunities to do a fun scavenger hunt in your yard, home, or neighborhood. Come up with a list on your own, or check out the post on My Joy Filled Life for links to a variety of different printables. 
3. OR A TREASURE HUNT - A treasure hunt is another fun way to keep kids entertained. The difference in this from a scavenger hunt is that instead of looking for items to match a category, you are solving a series of clues that will lead to a small prize. Wonder Mom Wannabe has free printable clues if you need clue ideas. 
4. SET UP AN ESCAPE ROOM - Kids love escape rooms. Bring the fun to your own home with these ideas from The Activity Mom. 
5. LEARN A NEW CARD GAME - Card games are a fun way to learn math skills. My kids are currently loving Speed and Trash. Check out this list of 75 card games at Confessions of Parenting.
6. LEARN DICE GAMES - Dice games are an equally engaging way to integrate some math with fun. What Do We Do All Day has a great list of easy dice games to play with kids. 
7. HAVE A DANCE PARTY - Break out the glow sticks and dance tunes and let your kids go wild with their own dance party at home. You can either cue up your own tunes or check out DJ Mel who is spinning dance music straight from his living room. 
8. BE A SPY KID - Have you ever checked out the kids section of the C.I.A website? If not, check it out now! It is a great section with information about the C.I.A, real stories, and games for kids. 
9. GO TO ZOO SCHOOL - Lots of zoos are offering streaming educational programs. You can check out local zoos, like The Elmwood Park Zoo for weekly virtual learning experiences.
10. PRINT OUT MAZES - These a-maze-ing mazes at Krazy Dad are awesome for kids.
11. SORT, PURGE AND DONATE OLD TOYS - If you haven’t already had your kids go through their books and toys, now is the time. Have them set aside old toys they no longer need, or use, to save for a future garage sale or for donation.
12. MAIL A LETTER - Have your kids not been able to see their grandparents or other relatives during quarantine? Have them draw a picture or write a letter to send. This surprise mail is sure to cheer up a relative’s day! You can also have them practice addressing and stamping an envelope for an added life skills lesson.
13. COOK SOMETHING TOGETHER - Have your child select, and plan, a complete meal and go through the process of cooking it with them. Kids will learn useful skills like cooking, math, patience and multi-tasking. Throw in a homemade dessert for a reward at the end.
14. LEARN TO SET A TABLE - Another lesson to add on to cooking is the art of table setting.
15. LEARN TO PLAY CAT'S CRADLE - Who remembers this school yard game? Teach your little one how to play an oldie but goodie. If you can’t remember how to play, check out this easy tutorial on YouTube from Mom’s Minivan.
16. CONNECT WITH FRIENDS - Even if your child has siblings it’s also important to allow them connections to their classmates. Virtual playdates are possible with things like Kids Messenger (available from Facebook), video chats, and synchronous gaming.
17. HAVE A CAMP OUT - Set up tents and a firepit in the backyard, or line up sleeping bags in a common area like the living room or basement and have a family camp out complete with s’mores and silly stories.
18. HAVE A BOARD GAME NIGHT - Settle in for an epic day and night of board games for some quality family bonding.
19. LEARN TO WRITE CHECKS - A perfect learning lesson in a life skill for kids of any age. Easy to pair with some imaginative “grocery store” play for the younger set. A Well Feathered Nest has a free printable to use.
20. MAKE A MINI GOLF COURSE - All you need are some plastic cups, milk jugs, boxes and a little imagination. Have the kids create a fun mini golf course for the yard or inside the house. Check out Red Tricycle for some ideas.
21. LISTEN TO A PODCAST - There are tons of great podcasts aimed at kids. A favorite in my house is: But Why? A Podcast for Curious Kids.
22. PLAY WITH ALEXA - Alexa is a resource of games and trivia for kids. Some great skills to check out are Kids Trivia, Freeze Dance, Would You Rather for Family and Animal Workout. Also be sure to check out the Headspace for Kids skill for great guided meditations for kids.
23. GROW A GARDEN - Create an indoor (or outdoor) container garden by using seeds, roots and scraps you have at home. Lettuce, celery and potatoes are reasonably easy to grow from scraps.
24. HAVE A MOVIE NIGHT - Simulate a movie theater experience by using the biggest screen in your home, popping up some buttery popcorn (served in brown lunch bags), and turning off all the lights for darkness.
25. HAVE A KIDS PAINT AND SIP - Have the kids channel their best Bob Ross skills by giving them some canvases and juice boxes while they paint to an instructional video. Check out Createful Kids for some great painting lessons that are easy enough for young artists to recreate.
26. HAVE A FASHION SHOW - Let kids go to town in your closet and put together looks using your clothes and jewelry and have them share their outfits by giving a fashion show.
27. PUT ON PLAY - Allow kids to write, direct and star in their own plays. This works well for larger families and builds on creativity as well as cooperation skills. Parent’s can sit back and enjoy the show and be a supportive audience.
28. WHO DONE IT? - Engage kids in a fun game that allows them to use deductive reasoning. It’s a great way to bring board games like Clue to life. Check out Minature Masterminds for a Who Did It? Printable.
29. MAKE YOUR OWN GEODE - What kid wouldn’t love one of these cool and colorful specimens? Parenting Chaos has a great guide on how to make them at home.
30. MAKE YOUR OWN CROSSWORD PUZZLE - Kids can create their own crossword puzzle to stump family members. Education.Com has an online puzzle maker to make it easy, or kids can design their own on paper.
31. MAKE A BIRD FEEDER - There are lots of great bird feeder how-to’s that kids can make using stuff from around the house. My favorite is this craft stick bird feeder on Animallama.
32. CREATE A WORRY DOLL - If your kids are feeling a little worrisome, have them create worry dolls that they can “give” their worries to. Tiny Fry has ideas for 8 different ways to make them.
33. ACCESS MARS - Kids can explore rover footage of Mars thanks to Google.
34. START A PHOTO LOG - Have kids create a photo log/journal by allowing them to take several candid shots each day and selecting one or two at the end of the day to add to eventually add to a final photo journal.
35. LEARN TO PLAY CHESS - If your children don’t already know how to play, Chess Kid has a great instructional guide!
36. TAKE A DAILY WALK - Take a daily walk to explore the neighborhood, you’ll never know what gems you might find! Have them photograph interesting things they spot along the way.
37. OR A BIKE RIDE - Break out the bikes, scooters and skateboards and cruise around to get some energy out.
38. CREATE AN OBSTACLE COURSE - Let your kids tap into their creative minds to set up an indoor or outdoor obstacle course.
39. BUILD A FORT - Because what kid doesn’t think a fort is awesome?!
40. LEARN TO DO LAUNDRY - If your kids don’t already know how to do their own laundry, this is a great time to teach them how to do this simple chore.
41. WATCH AN ASTRONAUT READ FROM SPACE - Storytime From Space features videos of astronauts reading from space while floating around.
42. MAKE YOUR OWN BOARD GAME - Kids are less likely to cheat if they are making the rules… maybe.
43. JOIN AN ONLINE BOOK CLUB - Get your kids engaged in some fun reading by having them participate in an online book club. Book Club For Kids is a great place to start.
44. LEARN ORIGAMI - Kids will have fun making these paper creations at Easy Peasy and Fun.
45. CREATE A COPING SKILLS BOX - Emotions are high and frustration tolerance is low. If your kids are having a difficult time with emotional regulation working on a coping skills box will serve two fold. Littles, Life and Laughter has instructions along with a free printable to get you started.
46. PLAY SCHOOL - School is more fun when it’s directed by the kids. Have the kids take turns in creating and giving lessons to their siblings in math, science, social studies, art, health, etc. This works particularly well if you have multiple kids. If your child is a single, play student and have them give you a lesson. Kids love showing off their knowledge!
47. JOIN A LEGO CHALLENGE - Give the kids a daily interactive “to do” by participating in the LEGO Quarantine Survival Challenge.
48. LEARN MAGIC TRICKS - What kid doesn’t love a good magic trick?! Have them learn a few to put on a show. There’s lots of tutorials on YouTube - check out 5 Minute Crafts for a few or visit the Magic For Kids website.
49. LEARN TO JUGGLE - What magic show isn’t complete without a juggling routine? Learn to juggle with this instructional video from Taylor Tries.
50. PLAY INDOOR BALL GAMES WITH BALLOONS - Too cold to go outside but have a few leftover party balloons? Blow them up and have the kids play an indoor ballgame.
51. MAKE SLIME - Remember when slime was all the rage but parents hated it because it ruined carpets? Pick and choose your battles here. Restrict slime to the kitchen or dining room table to keep the mess to a minimum. Check out this video from Courntey Lidquist for an easy recipe.
52. MAKE A ROCKET - Playful Learning has instructions and a template to create an Alka Seltzer rocket to launch in your very own backyard.
53. FLY A KITE - When was the last time you flew a kite? It’s been a while for most of us. Don’t have a kite? Have the kiddos make their own paper kite with these directions from Happiness is Homemade.
54. CREATE A FAIRY GARDEN - Or a “wish” garden where kids can go and talk to the fairies and make their wishes or share their secrets. My Frugal Adventures has fun fairy garden instructions.
55. CREATE NINJA STRESS BALLS - I make these often with kids at work and they are always a hit. Watch the King of Random video for the how-to.
56. MAKE REVERSE TIE DYE SHIRTS - Little fashionistas will love to create their own colorful shirts. I love this reverse tie dye technique from Tie Dye Your Summer.
57. CREATE A HALLWAY LASER MAZE - Kids will have fun testing their flexibility to get through a mom (or dad!) made maze. Real lasers are optional. Check out the Brassy Apple for inspiration.
58. CREATE A STORY JAR - Stories are a great way to get kid’s creative juices flowing while also getting some insight into their wishes, fears, hopes and dreams. I love these printable prompts from Kitchen Counter Chronicles.
59. PLAY CAPTURE THE FLAG - This is a fun game to entertain and get kids active. Kidz World has instructions and a video.
60. OR MANHUNT - Manhunt is another fun game for the kids to get some energy out and can be played in or outside, although it is much more fun in a yard at night. Check out game rules on Instructables.
61. MAKE A FLOWER SUN CATCHER - Engage kids in creating a calming mandala flower sun catcher and have them hang them in their bedroom windows so they can enjoy their creations. The Artful Parent has instructions on how to create on using things you most likely already have at home.
62. MAKE SCENTED PLAYDOUGH - A bit less cringey than slime, homemade playdough is a great way to keep little hands busy. I often use the recipes from Fun Learning For Kids and Sea Lemon (no bake) and add a few drops of calming essential oils safe for little ones.
63. PLAY MASH - Remember this simple pen and paper game? I recently taught my kids to play and it kept them entertained for hours as they came up with their own categories and spin on the classic game. Kids can easily create their own with paper and markers/pen/pencil, or you can print out this one from It’s Always Autumn.
64. MAKE A GOD’S EYE - Talk about another blast from the past. I remember making these in my public elementary school. You can also consider it a yarn mandala if you want to leave the religious reference out of it. Positively Splendid has instructions!
65. LEARN ABOUT CONSTELLATIONS - The sky offers endless learning possibilities along with opportunities to engage with our universe. Teaching kids about constellations is a great way for them to see the world beyond themselves. Little Bins For LIttle Hands has a great printable of constellation cards.
66. PLAY VIDEO GAMES - Chances are your kid is already doing this. Chances are you think they are spending too much time doing this. While your kids certainly shouldn’t be in front of a screen all the live-long day, I promise they will be okay if they spend a few hours a day playing video games. There are benefits to playing popular games like Mine Craft and Civilization (as well as others) as they allow kids to flex their muscles in creativity, strategic thinking, spatial planning, critical thinking and reasoning. Video game play is also a great way for kids to stay connected to their friends.
67. LEARN TO USE TOOLS - Does your kid know how to swing a hammer? Know the difference between a flat head and a Phillips head? Know how to use a wrench? These are the things that will come in handy! Have your kids help you with simple repairs around the house to get them familiar with tool use, or give them a simple building project to do with some guidance.
68. LEARN OTHER SIMPLE HOUSEHOLD REPAIRS - While you are at it, this is a great time to demonstrate all the things we just tend to do ourselves because of limited time and patience. Need a light bulb changed? Batteries replaced? A picture hung? This is a great time for a little basic how-to lesson.
69. DO TOILET PAPER ROLL CRAFTS - I hope you haven’t been throwing out all those toilet paper rolls, because there’s a gold mine of crafts you can do with them to keep little ones busy! Check out Ventuno Art for some great ideas.
70. VIRTUAL TUTORING - Since many schools are closed for an extended amount of time, and most of us are working (or don’t understand common core math), how about setting your kids up for some extra school work help with free tutoring from Columbia University students through Hearts Over Hands.
71. CREATE AN ART WALL - Let kids fill up an empty wall in the house with their art work. Tape up paintings, drawings and other creations. Use painters tape to create a “Featured Artwork” of the day frame to swap out daily.
72. START A ROCK GARDEN - Have kids collect and paint rocks to decorate the garden.
73. CREATE STORY STONES - Take the rock painting one step further and paint characters, places and things on each side of a rock to create your own story stones. Skura of America has a great video on how to create and use them.
74. LEARN TO FINGER KNIT - Knitting is a great relaxation activity. Craft Train has instructions on how kids can finger knit.
75. CREATE WITH AIR DRY CLAY - My kids (home and work) love air dry clay. I can’t keep enough of it on my shelves. Crafts by Amanda has some ideas to get kids started - although, I have never had a kid that hasn’t been able to come up with something creative on their own!
76. MAKE YOUR OWN WATERCOLOR PAINT - Out of paint? Happy Hooligans has instructions for homemade watercolors.
77. COLOR OR PAINT BY NUMBER - Put those new watercolors to work by printing out some color by number pages from Best Coloring Pages for Kids.
78. CREATE GLOW IN THE DARK JELLYFISH - I love this cool project from Craftiments. This would be an awesome thing for kids to make and hang in their rooms.
79. MAKE A MINI BANJO - The Craft Train has instructions on how you can make this mini musical instrument using lids and loom bands.
80. MAKE A FAMILY TREE - Help your kids understand their family history better by creating a family tree. I love the idea of this thumbprint tree from Good Housekeeping.
81. MAKE YOUR OWN SKEE BALL GAME - What kid doesn’t love skee ball?! Make your own using this tutorial from Frugal Fun For Boys.
82. CREATE A BUTTERFLY HABITAT - Give these beauties a safe space to grow. Boys Life has instructions to get you started.
83. OR A BEE HOUSE - Keep the pollinators pollinating by building a bee house out of things you likely have at home. Check out Instructables for directions.
84. LEARN TO TIE KNOTS - Does your child know how to tie essential knots? Do you?! InnerBark Outdoors teaches you how to tie 7 essential knots.
85. LEARN TO BUILD A FIRE - Teach your child not to fear fire, but to respect fire with a healthy sense of caution. Teach your child basic fire starting skills in your backyard fire pit or fireplace.
86. TEACH THE PETS A TRICK - Give kids the role of instructor in having them teach the family dog one of these tricks from Love Your Dog.
87. MAKE YOUR OWN ANT FARM - Nothing like a classic ant farm to combine fun, a free “pet,” and education all in one. Rule This Roost has instructions on how you can create your own using mason jars.
88. BAKE COOKIES FOR NEIGHBORS - Spread some love by leaving fresh baked goods and a note of your close family, friends and neighbors.
89. PLAY WOULD YOU RATHER - You can go the silly route, or make the game a little more detailed by asking questions that focus on more serious topics. Childhood 101 has a free printable of child friendly questions.
90. LEARN JOKES - Parade has 200+ kid friendly jokes. That’s a lot of laughs!
91. AND RIDDLES - Kids can stump their friends and family with these easy to learn riddles from Frugal Fun 4 Boys.
92. MAKE FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS - It’ll be a sweet gift for kiddos to give to some of their favorite people once they can see them in person again. A Girl and a Glue Gun has a great video tutorial on how to make 4 different types and SaraBeautyCorner has a collection of 5 styles with a cute button closure.
93. OR PARACORD BRACELETS - For kids who aren’t into the classic friendship bracelet look, paracord bracelets are a good alternative. Frugal Fun 4 Boys has a great post with instructions.
94. DO A ROOM MINI-MAKEOVER - Show your kids that change isn’t always stressful. Allow your child brainstorm with you ways they can re-arrange and decorate their room using things they already have.
95. HAVE AN EASTER EGG HUNT POST EASTER - Although the holiday may be over, I argue that Easter egg hunts are fun all year around. Instead of candy, you can add coins or create “tickets” for things like extra screen time, a chore pass for a day, or the power to choose dinner for the night. Or you can always leave the eggs empty and just allow kids to enjoy the hunt!
96. MAKE PAPER AIRPLANES - These 5 from PPO claim to fly very far. Kids can also get creative by making cool designs on their planes.
97. PUT KIDS IN CHARGE FOR THE DAY - Let them plan the day and find fun activities they want to do and create a plan to execute it.
98. SNUGGLE - Snuggle up in bed or on the couch under a big blanket and talk… about anything. About how they are feeling. About school. About friends. About their hobbies and interests. Ask questions. Let them ask you questions.
99. LET THEM BE BORED - It’s inevitable. They are going to be bored at some point and you have work, other kids, and life to manage. It’s okay if they are bored. Let them figure it out.
100. PARTICIPATE IN VIRTUAL THERAPY - If your child is struggling with the changes, consider reaching out for professional help to guide your child through his/her challenges. Many therapists are offering virtual counseling sessions for kids!

Download this list to print at Dropbox.